Does anyone have a yard plan for North Sands showing the later slipways used for the largest ships towards the end of the yard, such as NORDIC CHIEFTAIN / AURORA in 1974/1975? I have an enquiry from a lady owning one of the new houses between the glass centre and North Dock, who is interested in the history of the site.

Sorry no map, but following photo is dated 1969 and shows the position of the big berth in relation to other landmarks that still exist eg St Peter's Church and what I know as Dame Dorothy Street but seems to be called A1018/A183.

Photo Tyne and Wear Archives

Following Google map shows rough position of berth.

and just next to the Glass Centre is a green marker in the river. I understand that this marks the end of the large berth.The modern housing is on the original building berths which in the first photo appear to have been converted into a plate stockyard with gantry cranes and some preparation/fabrication sheds.

That's great Dave, knew I could rely on you!The lady enquirer has a house between Topcliff and Mulgrave Drive which it seems were on the downstream end of the yard, as your 1969 photo shows. I had always assumed somehow that the original berths were upstream and had been obliterated when the big berth was built for BORGSTEN and the later and even larger ships, but clearly they were at the lower end, with ships being launched in an upstream direction.The lady has an interest in the Albyn Black ships and has named her house after THISTLEDOWNE of 1953 so the key question is, would this ship have been launched from the ways that her house now stands on?

George. the new single berth didn't come into use until 1960. the first ship was Moss Hutchinsons 37,000 dwt oil tanker "Busiris" yard no 698. Have an aeriel view of the yard but its too big a file for this site. could send it by e amil if wanted. Also have a perfect builders photo of Thstledowne on trials if the lady wants it. Given up trying to send photos to NEMT, they always get rejected because of file size.Pictures of Busiris launch in this forum, J.L. Thompsons, North Sands where the old berths are also visible

[quote="Whickham"]Another view of the North Sands yard taken in 1948 showing the building berths on the right of the photo.Not sure how many berths there are, may be 3 or 4?

There were four Berths at Thompsons North Sands but Crowns had a berth as well as a slipway that I think ships could be winched up for repairs. Crowns was to the West of North Sands berths, left as viewed on the photo. When Thompsons took over Crowns in 1946 two of their four berths were dismantled, then Crowns yard was closed and demolished so Thompsons then had from Palmers Hill in the west to North Sands in the east as one yard. Housing was also demolished and several additions were made to the yard then. In the late 50s work began on the new large single berth parallel to Stand Quay (present day glass centre). before Crowns closed, it was still operating under Thompsons ownerships and this is the reason for frequent confusion about ships being classed as Crowns or Thompsons. Crowns yard numbers continued to be used,, but technically the builders were J.L.Thompson. The remaining two berths at Thompsons were only used for fabrication once the new single berth was in operation. The first launch from iot was the Busiris in 1960.